Electric cut-out switch.



No. 839,636. PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906. P. PETERS.

ELECTRIC GUT-OUT SWITCH.

APPLIGATION FILED IEB.20.1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT o uuos,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906,

Applicatio filed February 20, R06. Serial No. 302.087.

' ject of the King of Great Britain, residing at the city of Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have inventedia certain new and useful Improvemerit in Electric Cut-Out Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device employed in electric li hting for the purpose of switching on or 0 the'current in the wires of a lamp-circuit from the main circuit.

The invention consists of the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and specific- V ally set forth in the claims.

in the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved electric cut-out switch, showin the normal position of parts when the fill charge of lighting-current is on. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the normal position of parts when the li htingcurrent is ofi, Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the cut-out switch, showing the wire connections to the relative binding-posts of the main circuit and lam circuit, respectively; and Fig. 4 is a View of a metallic box secured to a street-pole and said box being in section to show my improved cut-out switch mounted therein: I

Like reference characters indicate like parts in the several views of the drawings.

The metallic parts of my improved cut-out switch are mounted on a base-plate a, of slate, porcelain, or other suitable material, which is a non-conductor of electricity.

A circuit-changing member is vertically arranged centrall of the plate a, and said member is in the orm of a rod 1), which has a lateral bent portion 7) at its upper end and its lower end terminating at the central portion of an upwardly-curved extension 6 This rod member is loosely mounted in supports 0 c, which are secured to the base-plate a by screws 0 c.

Two lugs dd are located one-at each side and near to the upper portion'of the circuitchanging member b, and each of said lugs has an integral binding-post, asd d, which passes through the base-plate to receive the ifi'erent ends of the lighting-circuit wires 6 e. Beneath the lugs d d are situated two laterally-separated conducting-pieces ff, having each an integral binding-post, as f f, which passes through the base-plate to receive the diiferent ends of the main-circuit wires 9 g.

Each conducting-piece f hasits inner portion bifurcated to receive the pivot-centers 7L 72 of arms Coil-springs j j are secured upon the conducting-pieces f f, as at points f f and said springs are arranged to force the upper portion of the arms "L c in contact with the lugs d d in the manner shown in Fig. 1. In this osition of parts, Fig. 1, the concave surface formed by the extension I) of the circult-changing member I) is clear of the lower ends of the arms 0' i, and thus the full charge of electric current passes freely through the lighting-wire e, through the binding-post of 'thelug d, through the pivot-arm 2', through the binding-post of the'conducting-piece f, thence throu h the wire 9 of the mam circuit to the other hinding-post of the conductingpiece f, through the pivot-arm i, through the binding-post of the lug d, and thence through the opposite lighting-wire e. The base-plate a is mounted in a metal box is and secured thereto b screws Z Z, as shown in Fig. 4. This switch-ho); is has a latcrallvprojecting hub 7c, which is bored to loosely .receive therethrough a shaft m. On the inner portion of the shaft m is made fast a cam n, of non-electriwconductor material, and on the outer ortion of said shaft is secured an 0 crating and-wheelo, which abuts the hub 9c" of the switch-box k. A collar is secured upon the shaft m,, as at p, to prevent lateral movement of said shaft. The cam n is ada ted to contact beneath the bent portion bof the circuit-changing member Z) and to'lift the latter in order to break the electric connection of the lighting-circuit; Said cam 'n, has two depressions formed in its surface, as at points n"and 72?, and as the cam is turned in the arrow direction it carries up the member I) and causes the curved extension of the latter to contact with and force inwardly the free ends of the springpressed arms '1 01 until the bent portion 5 of the member 6 strikesin the depression a of the cam, whenthe said operatingparts will be in the osition shown m Fig. 2, and thus breaking .t e current of the lampcircuit. As ,the cam is further turned in the arrow direction, (shown in-Fig. 2',) said cam releases from en agenient with the member I), the

latter fa ls by gravity and the arms '5 i are again forced in contact with the lugs d d by the sprin j, and the operating parts again assume t on DOI'Hl81lpOSitiOI1n (Shown m The box 7c has the usual perforated porceioo lain bushings q q mounted in its sides to receive the wires e e of the lighting-circuit and. Wires g g of the main circuit, respectively, in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In an electric cut-out switch, the combination of the wires of an electric-lam circuit having their ends connected to the inding-posts of fixed lugs the wires of an electric main circuit having their ends connected to the-.binding-posts of fixed conducting-pieces; two arms, each pivotally mounted on each of the conducting-pieces; means to force the u per portion of said arms in contact with tile lugs of the lamp-wires; a rod loosely mounted in proper supports and having an integral curved extension, and means for lifting said rod whereby its extension forces inwardly the lower free ends of said arms, and thus break the electric connection of the lamp-circuit, substantially as set forth.

2 In' an electric cut-out switch, the combination of the Wires of an electric-lamp circiiit having their ends'connected to the binding-posts of fixed lugs; the wires of an electric main circuit having their ends connected to the binding-posts of fixed conducting-pieces two spring-pressed arms having free ends, each arm pivotally mounted on each conducting-piece of the main wires, and said arms ada ted to bear against the lugs in making e ectric connection with the lampwires a rod loosely mounted in proper supports, having a bent portion at its upper end and an upwardly-extending curved portion at its lower end, respectively, and which latter portion is normally free of contact with the free ends of said arms; a shaft: and a rotatable cam of non-electric-conductor mate- .rial secured on. said shaft, said cam adapted ,t-he curved portion of said rod causes said arms to release from electric connection with the lamp-wires, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric cut-out switch, the combination of two lugs having integral bindingposts u on which are secured the ends of wires 0. an electric-lamp circuit; two con+ ductingepieces having integral binding-post upon which are secured the ends of wiresof an electric main circuit; two vertically-a1 ranged arms whose central portion is pivotally mounted on said conducting-pieces; springs adapted to press the u .er portion of said arms in contact with sai iiigs, whereby the full charge of electric connection is made through both said wires; a circuit-changing member in the form of a rod, which is situated and loosely supported between said arms, and said rod having a lateral bent upper portion and its lower portion terminating in a upwardly-curved extension, which is no mally located below said arms, and a rotatable cam, which is a non-conductor of electrinity, adapted to lift said rod by its bent portion, whereby the curved extension of the latter acts upon the lower ends of said arms and causes the same to swing inwardly and thereby break the electric connection of the lamp-circuit, substantial] as set forth.

In testimony whereof afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Geo. W CAMPBELL, E. F. JAMESQN. 

